Thousands of road accidents a year are caused by driver fatigue and it may be a factor contributing to an accident in up to a fifth of all crashes and even a quarter of all accidents which are either fatal or very serious.
Accidents caused by driver fatigue tend to be more likely to lead to death or serious injury as they are usually high speed as the driver is asleep and therefore cannot take avoiding action or brake.
Even if the driver is not actually asleep, just feeling sleepy reduces reaction time, the driver is concentrating less and is less alert, hence they are effectively impaired in the same way that drivers are who have been drinking or taking drugs.
Many drivers know they are feeling sleepy but make the decision to continue rather than stopping for a rest and this decision puts both their life and the lives of other road users at risk.
If you feel sleepy while driving, first open the windows or turn down the heating to get some fresh air and if you continue to feel sleepy you should park in a safe place until you feel fit to drive. Do not stop on the hard shoulder of the interstate or freeway. Try and drink some coffee and take a short nap.
In order to prevent feeling sleepy while driving plan your journey with a break of 15 minutes at least, every two hours and ensure you have a good night’s sleep the night before.
If your loved one has been injured in an auto or motorcycle accident in Asheville, please call the Dan Pruitt Injury Law Firm accident attorneys (864) 280-7660 or contact us online today.
